Difference between revisions of "Expressing "must" with "dei""

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*我们 <em>得</em> 走 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>děi</em> zǒu le.</span><span class="trans">We have to leave.</span>
 
*我们 <em>得</em> 走 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>děi</em> zǒu le.</span><span class="trans">We have to leave.</span>
 
*时间 不 早 了,我 <em>得</em> 回家 了。<span class="pinyin">Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ <em>děi</em> huíjiā le.</span><span class="trans">It's getting late. I have to go home.</span>
 
*时间 不 早 了,我 <em>得</em> 回家 了。<span class="pinyin">Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ <em>děi</em> huíjiā le.</span><span class="trans">It's getting late. I have to go home.</span>
*他 是 你 弟弟 ,你 <em>得</em> 帮 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì nǐ dìdi, nǐ <em>de</em> bāng tā.</span><span class="trans">He is your younger brother. You must help him.</span>
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*他 是 你 弟弟 ,你 <em>得</em> 帮 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì nǐ dìdi, nǐ <em>děi</em> bāng tā.</span><span class="trans">He is your younger brother. You must help him.</span>
 
*不 好意思 ,你 <em>得</em> 马上 离开 。<span class="pinyin">Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ <em>děi</em> mǎshàng líkāi.</span><span class="trans">Sorry, you have to get out of here right now.</span>
 
*不 好意思 ,你 <em>得</em> 马上 离开 。<span class="pinyin">Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ <em>děi</em> mǎshàng líkāi.</span><span class="trans">Sorry, you have to get out of here right now.</span>
 
*在 学校 就 <em>得</em> 听 老师 的 话 。<span class="pinyin">Zài xuéxiào jiù <em>děi</em> tīng lǎoshī de huà.</span><span class="trans">You have to listen to the teacher at school.</span>
 
*在 学校 就 <em>得</em> 听 老师 的 话 。<span class="pinyin">Zài xuéxiào jiù <em>děi</em> tīng lǎoshī de huà.</span><span class="trans">You have to listen to the teacher at school.</span>
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*他 没有 经验 ,你 <em>得</em> 教教 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā méiyǒu jīngyàn, nǐ <em>děi</em> jiāojiao tā.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't have experience. You must teach him.</span>
 
*他 没有 经验 ,你 <em>得</em> 教教 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā méiyǒu jīngyàn, nǐ <em>děi</em> jiāojiao tā.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't have experience. You must teach him.</span>
 
*明天 去 面试 ,你 <em>得</em> 穿 得 正式 一点 。<span class="pinyin">Míngtiān qù miànshì, nǐ <em>děi</em> chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">You must wear something more formal for tomorrow's job interview.</span>
 
*明天 去 面试 ,你 <em>得</em> 穿 得 正式 一点 。<span class="pinyin">Míngtiān qù miànshì, nǐ <em>děi</em> chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">You must wear something more formal for tomorrow's job interview.</span>
*你 病 得 太 厉害 了,<em>得</em>去 看 医生。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bìng de tài lìhai le, <em>děi</em> qù kàn yīshēng.</span><span class="trans">You are badly ill. You must go see a doctor.</span>
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*你 病 得 太 厉害 了,<em>得</em>去 看 医生。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bìng de tài lìhai le, <em>děi</em> qù kàn yīshēng.</span><span class="trans">You are really sick, you must go see a doctor.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 09:57, 24 April 2018

Learning how to use 得 (děi) to mean "must" must be done by those wishing to master Chinese!

Structure

Normally when you see 得 it's a particle and is pronounced "de." However, it can also be an auxiliary verb. In this case it's pronounced děi and means "must."

Subj. + 得 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

  • 我们 走 了 。Wǒmen děi zǒu le.We have to leave.
  • 时间 不 早 了,我 回家 了。Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ děi huíjiā le.It's getting late. I have to go home.
  • 他 是 你 弟弟 ,你 帮 他 。Tā shì nǐ dìdi, nǐ děi bāng tā.He is your younger brother. You must help him.
  • 不 好意思 ,你 马上 离开 。Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ děi mǎshàng líkāi.Sorry, you have to get out of here right now.
  • 在 学校 就 听 老师 的 话 。Zài xuéxiào jiù děi tīng lǎoshī de huà.You have to listen to the teacher at school.
  • 先 付钱 再 进 。děi xiān fù qián zài jìn.You need to pay before you come inside.
  • 是 你 的 错 ,你 道歉 。Shì nǐ de cuò, nǐ děi dàoqiàn.It's your fault. You must apologize.
  • 他 没有 经验 ,你 教教 他 。Tā méiyǒu jīngyàn, nǐ děi jiāojiao tā.He doesn't have experience. You must teach him.
  • 明天 去 面试 ,你 穿 得 正式 一点 。Míngtiān qù miànshì, nǐ děi chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.You must wear something more formal for tomorrow's job interview.
  • 你 病 得 太 厉害 了,去 看 医生。Nǐ bìng de tài lìhai le, děi qù kàn yīshēng.You are really sick, you must go see a doctor.

See also

Sources and further reading

Videos

Books